Locomotive driving box



Jan. 19, 1932.

F. H. EINWAECHTER, JR

LOCOMOTIVE DRIVING BOX 7 Filed Marh 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet aim Patented Jan. 19, 1932 uurrs o STA ES" P TENT oFFicE FREDERICK H. EINVJAECHTER, JR., VEST I-IALETHORPE, MARYLAFID VLOGOMOTIVE DRIVING BOX Application. filed March 22, 1929. Serial No. 349,138.

This invention pertains tolocomotive driving boxes. More particularly the invention points to the construction of parts of a driving box and method of removal or replace ment, made necessary by certain structures that as now used on a locomot1veprevent such removal or replacement of said partsin wise direction, as has been done in the past,

due to gearing now installed on locomotives which prevents the usual and free endwise action of the parts.

The journal box of my inventionv is of a type somewhat like that shownlin the patent issued to Murrin and Brewster June 1,1920 under No. 1,342,059 in that certain'so called side brasses which constitute side bearings for a journal, are employed, and which are removable from position by withdrawal in a lineparalleling the axis of such journal. This manner of withdrawal of the brasses in such devices as that of the mentioned'patent has been possible heretofore but there is now being used on locomotives what is known as the Caprotti valve gear which lies just outward from the journal box and substantially at the same height therewith, and therefore the named brasses cannot be withdrawn or replaced in the manner stated, and it is therefore required that some provision be made 35 for their removal in a different manneriand in a different direction. A structureand arrangement for permitting this is illustrated in the appended drawings wherein Figure l is a side elevation of my improved journal box structure, and wherein certain parts are shown in section.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar to Figure 1 and which illustrate the manner of removing the side brasses and other parts. v

Figure 4: is a horizontal section of the box and certain parts thereofon line 44 of Fi ure l, and i V Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the box on line 55 of Figure 1. i

In the figures the character 1 designates brasstoward the journal.

the journal box as a whole and wl1ich,as:in

common practice, is of archedform having the spaced legs '2Lbetween which the usual grease cellar, not shown, is held, said box also having end flanges 3, Figures 4 and 5 for retaining said box in the usual pedestal of the locomotive frame, not shown.

In the arch opening is seated the customary crown-brass 5 which is usually provided with a flange 6 at its outer and inner sides to seat in grooves 7 inthe face of the box, see Figure. 5, said crown-brass being recessed to receive the journal 8. The crown-brass issupported at its extremities on side-brasses 9, the

abutting faces of said crown brass and side brass lying considerably above the center of said journal, about as shown and side-br'asses extend substantially an equal distance below said center as best serving the purpose of bearing members.

- At the inner side of each leg 2 islprovided a ledge 10 in spaced relation to and beneath the side-brasses 9,-in the working'position of the latter and a wedge 11 is supported on each ledge 10 to engage beneath a brass supporting the same and for adjusting it to desired posi tions and for holding the crown-brass firmly seated in the arch. r

In the box outward from each side-brass is arecess 12 extending throughout the length the angled wall of theisaid recess and the other'adapted tobear against the side-brass;

The forward or thickest end of the wedge 18 is provided with an extension 14 paralleling the face of the box, the same having one or more notches 15 each to receivea bolt 16 or equivalent member entering the face of the a box, this being provided for forcing :the

wedge *inwardly to thereby move the side- The wedge 11 also has a flange 17 to extend over the face of the box and a suitable bolt 18 serves to urge the wedge inwardly.

The construction thus far-described isnot out chocking.

greatly unlike that shown in the patent referred to but my novel construction and purpose will now appear. Attention is directed to the conformation of the side-brasses 9 of the drawings, to the form of the wedge 13, and to the spacin of the corners or steps A, B of the box. That is to say, the back surface of the side-brass is a curved surface which may be substantially concentric with the curved surface of that member that lies in contact with and bears upon the journal 8. It is to be observed, also, that the surface of the wedge 13 abutting the side-brass is correspondingly curved, or it may be substantially so curved. Again, the points A, B of thebox lie a distance from the curved surface ofwthejournal slightly in excess of the thickness of the side-brasses in their cross sectional measurement taken on any line radial to the axis of the journal so that thereby said side brasses may pass between the latter and said points.

It has previously been stated that there is now being used on locomotives certain valve gears which lie so close to the box that the side-brasses cannot be withdrawn in the direction of their lengths due to the limited space, but the herein described arrangement admits of easily liberating the brasses so that they may be removed and replaced readily, from the fact that the-wedge 11 can be partially withdrawn, there being sufficient space between the box and the named gears to permit such action. This partial withdrawal permits the thinner end of the wedge to. re-

place the thick portion and said wedge may then be tipped and dropped between the journal and the point B as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1. Now, by partially withdrawing the wedge 13 the pressure on the side-brass 9 is relieved whereupon the latter may be slipped around the journal be tween that member and the points A, B as shown in Figure 2 and dropped between the legs 2, and this may be followedby the wedge 13 itself, when desired, after the removal of the bolts 16 or other holding means.

Replacingthe parts is as easily done in reverse order, or new brassesmay be supplied, the tightening of the wedges restoring operative relation.

The outer-sides of the brasses 9 are curved in order that those members may readily and freely shift with respect to the wedges 13 but so long as the wedges may be shifted endwise suflicient clearance may be provided to that end without having the abutting surfaces of the brasses and wedges exactly concentricand in fact it is only necessary that the surface of the wedge facing the brass be e of such conformation that it will'permitthe' brass to be shifted around the journal with- The depth of the recess 12 measured on a line radial to the axis of the journal must be held between certain limits in order that the wedge 13 therein may have a backing and serve its full purpose in adjusting the brass 9, combined with the fact, in so doing, that said wedge can be drawn outward but a limited distance, or little more than suflicient to release the brass so that that member may be free to shift. And for this reason the wedge surface adjacent the brass is inwardly curved or otherwise cavitied to permit the brass to brass the latter could work within the provided space without respect to said wedge and it is necessary always, of course, that the distance between the journal and the points A, B be such as to permit the brass to pass.

My invention is adapted to the present day type of journal box rather than special forms thereof, that type of box being machined to provide the recesses 12and with recesses to create. the ledges 10 without further machining, and even discarded boxes may be recon- 'ditionedand restored to service.

That a journal hearing may be made to properly stand the heavy service demanded of it the side brasses and crown brass must abut in some such manner as shown herein and said side brasses must lie diametrically opposite each other in line with the thrust which is in a horizontal plane. Also, the brasses so located should extend well above and below the center line or axis of the j ournal to best perform the service required.

Due to the structure of the body 1, 2 sufficient clearance must be provided to permit the passage of a side brass of sufficient bulk to answer the demands and for that'reason the metal of the inner surfaces of the legs adj acent to or nearest to the journal are removed to permit such passage of the side brasses as well 'as'to provide the mentioned ledges 10 for receiving the wedge 11 for supporting and holding the side brass against the crown brass. Such an arrangement including the wedge 13 makes for an exceedingly substantial and staunch journal bearing of long life,

with a minimum of care in its maintenance.

Preferably the side brasses are curved at opposite sides as shown so that in sliding them around the journal in installing them the curved faces of the wedges 12 will act to guide them to position beneath the crown brass.

I claim: I

1.- The combination with a locomotive driving box, and a journal, of a side brass at each side of the journal at diametrically opposite positions, each forming a bearing for the same, a wedge to urge each side brass toward the journal, said wedge havinga SUI? face facing the side brass adapted to receive contact of I and guide the latter about the journal in a movement of said side brass in a direction following the curvature of its journal engaging surface, and means to adjust the wedge.

2. The combination with a locomotive driving box, a crown brass, and a journal, of a side brass at each side of the journal at diametrically opposite positions and abutting the under side of the crown brass and forming bearings for the said journal, a wedge to urge the side brass toward the latter, said wedge having a surface facing the side brass adapted to receive contact of and to guide the latter about the journal in amovement of said side brass following the direction of curvature of its journal engaging surface, means to adjust the wedge, a wedge to-urge the side brass against the crown brass, and means to adjust such wedge. r

3. The combination with a locomotive driving box, and a journal, of an adjustable wedge mounted in the box at each sideof said journal and having a surface facing the same substantially concentric with the surface thereof, and a side brass opposite surfaces of which substantially coincide with the curvature of said journal and wedge, adapted to abut each and capable o 1 movement between and with respect to both in the direction of curvature.

4. The combination with a locomotive the box having a recess therein at opposite sides of the journal, of a wedge in each said recess having a surface facing said journal substantially concentric with the surface thereof, and a side brass opposite surfaces of which substantially coincide with the surfaces of the journal and wedge adapted to abut upon each.

5. The combination with a locomotive is driving box, its crown brass, and a journal, the box having a recess therein at opposite sides of the journal, of a wedge in each said recess having a surface facing said journal substantially concentric with the surface in) thereof, and a side brass opposite surfaces of which substantially coincide with the sur face of the journal and wedge adapted to abut upon each and also abutting upon and supporting the crown brass. 1

"' 6. The combination with a locomotive driving box, its crown brass, and a journal, of an adjustable wedge mounted on the box at each side of said journal and having a surface facing the same substantially concentric with the surface thereof, a side brass opposite surfaces of which coincide in curvature with the surface of the journal and wedge adapted to abut against each and capable of movement between and with respect to both in the direction of curvature, and means to driving box, its crown brass, and a journal,

between and with respect to both in the direction of curvature,-and means to support the side brasses inposition. 8. The combination with alocomotive driving box and'a journal, of an adjustable wedge mounted on the box at each side of saidjournal andhaving a surface facing the same substantiallyconcentric with the surface thereof, a side brass opposite surfaces of which coincide in curvature with the surface of said journaland wedge adapted to abut against each and capable of movement be tween and with respect to both in the direction of curvature, and separate means for adjusting each wedge.

9. The combination 'with a locomotive driving box, its crown brass, and a journal of an adjustablewedge mounted in the box at each side of said-journal and having a surface facingthe latter substantially concentric with the surface thereof, aside, brass opposite surfaces of which substantially coincide with the surfaces of said journal and 9 wedge adapted toabut against each and capa ble of movement between and with-respect to both in the direction of curvature, and awedge to support the side brass and adjust it toward the crown'brass; m5 10. The combination of a locomotive driving 'box'having an arched opening extending up into it, a crown brass in said opening, and ajournal, said box having spaced legs, the distance between the legs being but no slightly more than the diameter of the said "journal, a side brass at each side of the ournal, each being diametrically opposite the other andabutting said journal and each, abutting part of the under side of the crown" brass, there beingarecess in the box behind each side brass, a wedge in each recess abutting the side brass, the surface abutting said side brass being substantially cylindrically; curved, oneof the surfaces of each side brass 1 being curved to fit the journal and the opposite surfaces having a curve also substantially concentric thereto, said box having-a recess beneath each side brass, and a wedge in,. eachrecess adapted for engaging the side brass therein v and forcing it against the cro-wnbrass.

11. The combination of a locomotive driving box having an arched opening ex-,, tending up into it, a crownbrass in said opentially cylindrically curved, one of the sur- 7 faces of each side brass being curved to fit the journal and the opposite surface having a curve to substantially fit said curve of said supporting wall, and a' Wedge seated in said second recess on its supporting wall and abutting the side brass, said side brassand said wedge adapted to be carried to their positions in a movement thereof upwardly about the journal between the latter andthe legs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK H. EINWAECHTER,- Jr.

wedge, each leg of the box having a recess therein beneath the vposition of the side brass, the lower wall of said recess communicating with and being downwardly inclined away from the said arched opening, and a wedge seated on said inclined wall abutting the side brass. V

12. The combination of a locomotive driving box and a journal, the box having an arched opening and a depending leg at each side of the opening spaced from the journal, acrown brass seated in the arched opening receiving the journal against it, opposite portions of the crown brass overhanging the space between the journal and said legs, there being a recess in each leg below the position of the crown brass, disposed opposite the journal and having a lower supporting wall, there being a second recess in each leg at a lower position than the first named recess and located inward from the supporting wall closer to the journal than the latter and having a supporting wall, a wedge seated in the first named recess upon its supporting wall, a side brass positioned between said journal and the wedge and abutting: the crown brass, and a wedge seated on the supporting wall of said second recess beneath the side brass, the spacing ofthe leg .from the journal being such as to permit the wedges and side brasses to be inserted from a position below the said journal in a direction transverse to the ournals length.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein the supporting wall of the second recess is inclined downwardly away from the space between the legs. v

14. The combination of a locomotive driving boxiincluding-a pair of spaced legs joined at one of their ends by an arch por- I c 'tion', a journal, a crown brass seated in the arch receiving the journal against it, there being a recess in each leg in positions at opposite sides of the journal, each recess having a lower supporting wall, a wedge seated in each recess upon its lower wall, a side brass disposed between the wedge'andsaid journal, there being a second recess in each leg beneath theside brass inward from the position of the first named recess and its supporting wall and communicating with the space between the legs, and itself having a 

